GAMES WEDNESDAY
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
5 p.m. – Magnolia vs. Converge
7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs. SMB
WITH precious seconds ticking away in the third quarter, rookie wingman CJ Cansino of defending champion Meralco opted to pounce on hapless Terrafirma, hoisting a four-point try at the buzzer.
Showing no mercy, the red-hot Bolts bludgeoned the Dyip last night 118-80 for their second straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Cansino banged in the four and flashed a big smile before trooping back to the bench for high-fives all around after giving Meralco an 86-56 spread.
Bolts coach Luigi Trillo said his charges finally had a good start—in stark contrast to trailing by 20 points before rallying for a 91-89 squeaker over the Converge FiberXers in their opening match last Friday.
“What I thought was good was our first quarter. Our first quarter in our first game and our three tune-up games, we did not start well. We have a lot of respect for Terrafirma because we played them in a tune-up game and in that one, at the half we were even down by two (points),” Trillo, whose team rose to 2-0, said. “They also beat Phoenix and they are missing some guys. They are a different team probably when they are complete.
“Our veterans and rookies played well. I think in the second quarter lumamang kami ng 20 points, they came back and brought our lead to seven. Just focused on what they are doing. We’re feeling good. Our guys were making their shots, we have a point of attack,” he added.
Terrafirma failed to sustain its gains from a 95-87 victory over Phoenix also last Friday and slipped to 1-1 in the season-ending tourney.
Cansino rifled in three four-pointers and wound up with 19 points and four rebounds while fellow freshman Kurt Reyson chipped in 16 markers, two rebounds, and three assists.
Quinto also had 13 points and three boards while Alvin Pasaol, Brandon Bates, and Jolo Mendoza all added 11 each for the Bolts.
Meralco held a 56-43 lead at the break and met little resistance from the Dyip from there.
Louie Sangalang paced Terrafirma with 23 markers and seven caroms while Aljun Melecio got 11 and three.
Stanley Pringle and Mark Nonoy also contributed 11 markers apiece for the Dyip.
The Bolts will see action anew on Wednesday against the San Miguel Beermen in a retro tiff to mark the pro league’s 50th anniversary and while it will be their third outing in six days, Trillo and his team are not complaining—as long as they are thriving.
